Voting Reform

A comprehensive voting reform bill proposed by the ACLU foundered in the Senate this year. Designed to strengthen the franchise in Rhode Island, the legislation would overturn restrictive Board of Elections’ policies that substantially limit the counting of provisional ballots and restrict the rights of candidates to view disputed ballots during recounts of close elections. The House passed a watered-down version of the bill, requiring the Board of Elections to follow the rule-making procedures of the Administrative Procedures Act, a process that every other major state agency must abide by. However, even this truncated version of the bill died in the Senate due to objections from the Board of Elections. On the positive side, however, problematic bills introduced on behalf of the Board, including legislation to eliminate a requirement that mail ballots be counted when the intent of the voter is clearly identifiable, died as well.